US EditionGoogle Makes First Play Store Changes After Losing Epic Games Antitrust Case
Google allows US developers to use external payment platforms and link to app sources outside the Play Store under a court order effective until Nov 1, 2027.
- Following the court order that runs to November 1, 2027, Google has begun implementing the first phase of changes ordered after losing the antitrust case brought by Epic Games and updated support pages confirming compliance in the US Play Store.
- Epic Games began the legal challenge in 2020 after trying to sell Fortnite content without using Google's payment system, arguing that Google suppressed alternative Android app stores.
- Developers operating in the Play Store can now direct users to external download sources and payment methods, and US developers may use external payment platforms to avoid Google's commission .
- Google says it hopes to reverse the ruling before further changes are required, noting it has not given up hope and previously failed against Apple in a similar case.
- This court-mandated change positions the Play Store differently within the Android ecosystem, as Google prepares for broader shifts after losing the appeal this past summer.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Google has opened up Google Play in the US to allow external payments to bypass commission rates due to a lawsuit. The policy is valid until November 1, 2027, and the company is continuing to appeal.
Google Makes First Play Store Changes After Losing Epic Games Antitrust Case
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Since launching Google Play (nee Android Market) in 2008, Google has never made a change to the US store that it didn't want to make -- until now. Having lost the antitrust case brought by Epic Games, Google has implemented the first phase of changes mandated by the court. Developers operating in the Play Store will have more freedom to direct app users to resources outside the Google bubble…
Google Play Store Finally Opens to Third-Party Billing in the US
A legal battle involving the Google Play Store has been going on for some time now. Now, we finally have a major victory for app developers and Android users in the United States. Following a multi-year legal saga with Epic Games (the creator of Fortnite), Google has been forced to open up its ecosystem, ending a practice that has defined the Play Store for years. Effective immediately for users in the United States, the strict requirement that …
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